Frank k



f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- FRANK K. WAY AND FRANK M.` WATERS, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE PASTER-CHAMBERLAND FILTER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION' forming part kof Letters Patent No. 507,779, dated October B1, 1893. Application filed April 9, 1891. Serial No. 338,221.` (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK K. WAY and FRANK M. WATERS, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Valves, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates toimprovements in air-valves adapted to permit the escape of air or gases from closed vessels, and at the same time prevent the escape of liquids therefrom.

The inventionis especially adapted for use with filters operating under the system known as the Systme Pasteur, though its usefulness is not limited to this particular class of mechanism.

The object of our invention is to provide an air-valve which shall be more certain in its operation, which shall be free from the liability of sticking and at the same time will operate under pressure Without discharging any liquid at the moment orin the act of closing.

Our invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings,Figu-re l is a sectional elevation View of a device embodying our invention.A Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. l Fig. 3 is a detailed View in perspective of the outer casing. Fig. 4t is a sectional elevation showing a modication.

Like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents an outer casing in which is located a float A', slightly smaller than said casing and preferably formed of hollow thin sheet metal, hermetically sealed. The outer casing A, is provided at the bottom with an opening a, which coinmunicates with a valve-chamber B, arranged below said casing; the valve-chamber B, and the outer casing A, being preferably formed in separate pieces, screw-threaded and joined together with a suitable intervening packingring a', as shown. Projecting through the opening a, into the valve chamber B, is a valve stem b, securely connected to the float A. This valve stem b, is preferably tapered from the top downwardly; being smaller where it joins the float A ,the base or largest diameter of the stem b, being preferably of a size adapted to it snugly, though not tightly, in thel opening a. Attached to'the valve-stem b, is a valve b,'which consists preferably of a washer of any suitable material, such as rubber, leather'or'indurated fiber, which valve is held in position by a metal washer b2, and a screw b3, the screw passing through the respective washers b andbz, and into the valve stem b.

The lower portion of the outer casing of the valve chamber B, is preferably screw-threaded or otherwise adapted to be connected to the vessel to which it is to be applied; a passage c, being adapted to establish a communication between said vessel andthe valve chamber B.

It will be understood that the valve chamber B and the valves therein are located below the lioat and the float chamber. The outer casing A, of thefloat )chamber is left open at the top, and the float is formed with a projecting portion A2, which extends through the top of said casing A.

In the operation of the device the air or other gases escaping from the vessel, pass through the passage c, and the valve chamber B, into the casing or float chamber A, and thence around said ilo'at, escaping at the top ofsaid chamber. If the vessel should become filled with liquid, it rises through the passage c, and valve chamber B, into said casing, thus raising said iioat and closing the valve. As the lioat is raised the conical or tapered valvestem b, gradually closes the opening a, in the bottom of the float chamber, thus gradually cutting off the supply of liquid, and at the same 'time guiding the valve b', to its seat about said opening. The valve is thus slowly closed until the pressure of water or other liquid is sufficient to hold the valve firmly against its seat, when the further escape of the liquid into the iioat chamber is prevented. By the arrangement of the float, as thus described, above the valve and valve chamber, the valve is completelysurrounded with the water or other liquid before it beginsv to close and before the liquid has come in contact with IOO the fioat. Before the valve begins to close the Water or other liquid has arisen into the float chamber and thus filled the valve chamber, and the opening c., connecting the two chambers, so that the valve closes slowly and naturally as the water rises against the float and any spurt of the water or other liquid through the top of the valve chamber or escape orifice by the sudden closing of the valve is prevented.

We preferably form the extended portion A2, of the fioat A', with an outwardly and downwardly extended liange A3, adapted to extend over and cover the top of the casing A; the casing A, being preferably provided with small upwardly extending lugs or projections cl, on which this flange or cap A3, is adapted to rest. The liange A3, thus forms a cap or shield for the top of the float chamber to prevent dust or other foreign substances from finding their Way into the oat chamber.

In Fig. 4, the casing A, is shown extended up about the float A; the casing in this construction being preferably formed in two parts screw-threaded together as shown, the extended portion A2, being adapted to project through an opening A5, in the top ot' said casing, which forms the discharge opening of said casing.

By having the top of the float extended through the opening in the top of the iioat chamber, means are at hand by which the valve may be readily depressed and thus separated from its seat in case any sticking of the same should occur; it being necessary only to press on the extended portion A2, of the oat, to loosen the valve.

It is obvious that other modifications than those described of the constructions herein may be employed Without departing from the spirit of our invention. We do not therefore limit ourselves to these constructions, but

Te claim, broadlyl. An air valve,substantially as described, consisting essentially of a valve chamber and a valve therein, a float chamber communicating with said valve chamber and a float connected to said valve, said oat being arranged above said valve and provided with an extended portion adapted to project through the open top of said float chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In an air valveavalve andavalve chamber, a float above said valve,a valve seat between said fioat and valve, and a tapered or conical stem connecting said valve and ioat through said seat, said tapered or conical stem being arranged with the enlarged portion or Ease next to said valve, substantially as specied. Y

3. In an air valveafloat arranged inafloat chamber and connected with a valve below said fioat chamber, said float being extended above said fioat chamber and provided with a fiange to forni a cap or cover for said float chamber, substantially as specified.

4E. A valve, a valve chamber, a lioat arranged in a fioat chamber above said valve, said `float being provided with an outer flangeto form an outer cap or cover for said float chamber, and engaging projections between the topof said chamber and cap to prevent the tight closing of said chamber, substantially as specified.

5. A valve chamber and a float chamber, a perforated valve seat between the same, a tapered valve stem connecting said valve and aiioat through said seat, said fioat being arranged above said valve and provided with an extended portion which projects through the top of said Hoat chamber, substantially as specified.

6. In an air valve a valve chamber, and a float chamber above said valve chamber, a perforated valve seat at the top of said valve chamber, and a float in said fioat chamber` connected through said valve seat to said valve, and a cap or cover for said float chamber, and engaging projections between the top of said float chamber and said cap or cover, to form an air passage under said cap or cover, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 31st dayof March, A. D. 1891.

FRANK K. WAY. FRANK M. WATERS. Witnesses: WEBSTER W. SHUEY, JACOB FIKE, CHARLES H. BosLER. 

